32 Pagans arrested in drug roundup

Raids culminate 18-month investigation

Nov. 22, 2006

Written by

LEE WILLIAMS and ESTEBAN PARRA

The News Journal

Thirty-two people have been named in a 160-count indictment detailing drug trafficking, racketeering and gang activity "by members of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Gang," the Delaware State Police said Tuesday.

At least nine people were arrested Tuesday, and their homes searched by police. State police declined to comment about the specific charges or name those who had been arrested.

In a written statement, Delaware State Police spokeswoman Sgt. Melissa Zebley said the investigation involved state police, the Attorney General's Office and Probation and Parole. Nine people were brought before a Superior Court commissioner Tuesday and given an arraignment date.

Appearing before Commissioner Michael P. Reynolds on charges of racketeering and gang participation were Joseph Ritchie, Kenneth McAbeney, James Jollie, Charles Campbell, Edmund J. Cole, Paul D. Fitzwater, Robert F. Fuller, Misael Mercado and William J. Pfitzenmeyer. Three of the nine were additionally charged with offenses including trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to deliver and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for drugs.

Because the indictment, handed down Monday, remained sealed Tuesday, details of the crimes, the scope of the investigation and the roles of the defendants were not available from the court.

The U.S. Justice Department has long considered the Pagans Motorcycle Club an "outlaw motorcycle gang." Zebley said Attorney General Carl C. Danberg and state police Col. Thomas F. MacLeish would discuss the indictment at a news conference today.

"This has been an extensive 18-month investigation," Danberg said. "There are arrests being made today and have been made today and more information regarding the investigation and the outcome will be available tomorrow."

Bail for those arrested Tuesday started at $220,000. Those charged with additional drug offenses were assigned higher bail amounts.

Charles, a 56-year-old retired parts manager, has been active in the Pagans since the 1960s, she said. "He never had to commit crimes to join or remain a member, and he's never been arrested for drugs."

The Campbells' home was searched Tuesday morning. No drugs were found, Virginia Campbell said.

"They took everything with Pagans on it," she said. "Plus they took our gun safe. In the safe were my grandma's diamonds, our marriage certificate and the deed to our home."

Jollie was initially caught in a police raid on Nov. 4 near Newport. Jollie was visiting a friend's home when a state police SWAT team threw a flash-bang grenade into the home.

Jollie was released after the raid, but police confiscated his motorcycle club colors and his 2005 Harley-Davidson.

Two days later, on Nov. 6, Derek J. Hale was sitting outside another Pagan's home in Wilmington when he was shot and killed by Wilmington police as officers tried to apprehend him. Days later, Virginia State Police searched Hale's Manassas, Va., home. On Tuesday, the superintendents of the Virginia and Delaware state police issued a statement that said, in part, that Virginia troopers were conducting their own "independent investigation" of Hale and were not acting on a request by the Delaware State Police.

Hale's shooting is under investigation by Wilmington police. Several witnesses said Hale was not threatening officers, but Wilmington police said Hale did not respond to commands to show his hands and had a switchblade and pepper spray. The results of the internal investigation will be forwarded to Danberg's office for review.

Between Nov. 4 and Nov. 8, Delaware State Police arrested 12 suspects as part of the 18-month investigation. Those 12 were charged with felony drug and weapons offenses. One of the 12, Raul Morales, lived in the home where Hale was shot and killed. When he was arrested, Morales, 34, was in possession of cocaine, four handguns and 1,914 rounds of ammunition, police said.

"I am less than thrilled by the bail situation, which was uniformly set substantially above the guidelines," he said. "It's troublesome."

Four of Hurley's clients have no criminal record, he said. "One had nothing at all in his residence when police searched for drugs, yet he's being charged with drug trafficking."

Legal experts say state racketeering charges are rare. Jeffrey E. Grell, founder of the Minnesota-based Ricoact.com, has been prosecuting and defending federal racketeering cases for more than 13 years. It is more common for racketeering charges to be filed by federal prosecutors, he said.

"Usually, you're going to have interstate commerce, so the feds will get involved," Grell said. "States are always trying to save money. If they can have the feds do it, most do."

U.S. Attorney for Delaware Colm F. Connolly, when asked late Tuesday about federal involvement, said his office had not been invited to participate in the investigation.